Postings about my dogs, the dog people I meet and their dogs. This includes travel, dog park adventures, adventures in the living room and in the backyard. It's all about the dog.

Luxury Dog Bed

September 17, 2008

I love t-shirts. All types of t-shirts. I never really thought about t-shirt appeal until now. I just buy what I like. But now I have to think about what makes a great t-shirt.

We're designing a Dog Designer® t-shirt and would like to enlist your help. Here's the plan. We'll post design concepts on this blog as they are developed (at least the ones we think are any good ;-) ). You comment. When we've decided we produced enough concepts, and one stands out as the best, we'll send it to press.

Here's how you can participate. Simply offer your feedback in the comments of each post. At the end of the process we are going to draw from the pool of people who've commented and give the winner a t-shirt.

In case you've just found this blog, I am Mike Spears, the Dog Designer, an artist that loves dogs and loves to make cool stuff for dogs. Part of our objective is to build a designer brand in the pet industry around the Dog Designer and our designer label Molle Tache. Currently, we design custom luxury dog beds, dog houses, couture dog clothes and clothing.

If we're going to build a high fashion, cool brand, it seems like a cool t-shirt for dogs and people is an essential. What do you think?

Thanks for the help! I look forward to your comments.Mike, the Dog Designer

September 13, 2008

More than week has passed since Hurricane Gustov has come and gone here in central Louisiana. My previous post on this blog told the tale of a dog pictured on the cover of the Lafayette, LA daily The Advertiser. The dog stood amid the splinters of a hurricane ravaged block, standing in water, chained to something outside th photo frame.

The cover photo prompted reader concern and inquiries the day after the tornado, concern that drove a series of follow-up stories in the publication. In my efforts, I exchanged several emails with the photographer of the original front page photo. It took nearly a week for the newspaper to wrap up the story, although it was never clear what happened to the dog.

Two days following the tornado, still without news of the dog's fate, I
drove out to the Mamou, LA site where the dog was pictured. The
devastation was far more shocking than photos could depict. It turned my stomach. On the other hand, I was
relieved to see the dog was no longer on site.

The irony of the situation is the dog survived a hurricane and tornado, helpless and chained outside, while tragically, the two owners inside of the home were killed. The dog was apparently, although not confirmed, rescued from rubble by family members the day after the tragedy.

Still, I'd like to know exactly what happed to this dog, but I am consoled to know it was not left on site, and the know that enough people inquired about the dog to still a series of follow-ups. Finally, Lafayette Animal Aid also visited the site to help locals and displaced animals in the vicinity.

If you're a dog lover, there are so many contradictions and ironies in this story. How could people leave a dog chained up outside in a storm? Yet, had the dog been inside the home, it too may have perished! The newspaper followed up a story due to reader concern, yet failed to take the investigation to an end in which we could feel relieved the dog found a new and safe residence.

Certainly there are more important things in the world to worry about. Yet, these are matters of the heart, and no matter how insignificant they seem, the conscience still stirs.

August 11, 2008

What amazes me is how different dogs think than humans. No matter what I learn, I still find myself trying to relate to my dogs in a human way. Even when I try to put myself in their paws, I find myself thinking like a human for them.

So, for me, it's puzzling, when I try to figure out what's going on with Posh, my little Maltese. She's about 9 months, and still not fully potty trained. Her brother and sister, Barley and Sk8r, a wheaten terrier and Yorkshire terrier, are doing pretty well. They are both potty trained and will go outside when asked. Posh is doing pretty well, but there's no rhyme or reason to why she still potties in the house, on occasion.

I've learned, the first thing, before anything else, when I wake in the morning, take the kids out. The first trip is good for a tinkle from each. I walk them back inside, brush my teeth, and then back out again. No more than 10 minutes have passed, and guess what, they do the second half of their business. Why they won't do it all in the first trip, I'm not sure. But no problem. I can deal with that. I don't understand. But I know what to do.

So, everything has been going well in the potty training category. Then two days ago, I wake up and there's poop and pee on the bedroom floor! I know who's to blame, but why? We were doing so well?

Instead of trying to make sense of it, as I would normally attempt, I just make up a story. No use in trying the impossible...to give a dog a human sense of the world. Here's what I think happened:

Posh wakes up in her playful mood. She nudges Sk8r and says, "Hey! Don't say anything, but I think I'm gonna potty on the floor."

Sk8r says, "You better not, he's gonna be upset and I'm gonna have to go and hide somewhere for a while, cuz I don't like it when he fusses."